Neotel eyes fixed Wimax

SA's second national operator confirms it will have an operational WiMax network towards the end of the year, but rubbishes claims it may be one of the first African operators to deploy mobile WiMax.

Last year, Motorola - one of the companies in the running for the WiMax contract - claimed it is in a strong position to secure the network contract, as it is about to launch 802.16e WiMax technology in SA. This, the company argued, is expected to emerge as an industry standard within a few years, replacing the current 802.16d fixed-WiMax technology.

However, Neotel executive head of strategy Angus Hay has rejected claims that the operator will rush to embrace mobile WiMax, saying Neotel will look at a "primarily fixed" WiMax solution.

Hay has also denied the 802.16e standard is likely to become the de facto standard for WiMax, saying the confusion has been created by the way in which the WiMax Forum communicates with the public.

He explains that, as with any technology, there are iterations of standards, and says WiMax technology will continue to evolve.

"Mobile is not necessarily better, it is about what you use it for. Neotel will adopt the latest appropriate standard at the time."

Hay would not be drawn on how many companies have bid for the WiMax infrastructure contract, but confirmed the tender process garnered much interest. "Anything we put up there attracts a lot of interest," he adds.

He would also not say when the contract will be awarded, nor would he comment on the value of the WiMax deal. However, Neotel said earlier this year that it expects to spend about R11 billion on infrastructure over the next 10 years. At its highest, this is expected to reach R5 billion in one year.

"Our enterprise services are ramping up throughout this quarter," Hay says, adding that the company is on track to meet its targets for infrastructure roll-out.

WiMax deployments have been picking up speed in SA recently. Fixed-line monopoly Telkom last month launched its WiMax network - the first commercial deployment in SA.

Last month, MWeb announced it has begun a WiMax trial that will see 1 000 homes and businesses in Cape Town and Johannesburg connected within the next two months. Other players, including Altech, Tshwane Metro, BCS NET and Internet Solutions, have also entered the WiMax arena.

However, none of the local or African projects have, to date, deployed the new-generation mobile WiMax standard.

This is despite the fact that Andy McKinnon, Motorola's WiMax principal for the EMEA region, said it would be a "no-brainer" that any greenfield project in SA would adopt the new-generation WiMax standard, which offers full mobility.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 3GSM World Congress, in Spain, earlier this year, McKinnon explained that mobile broadband can compete significantly with fixed technology. He added that 16e is capable of outperforming 16d in a fixed environment, as the actual radio technology is better.

Motorola was unavailable for comment this morning.